An action-packed half term

Karen Brailey

School holidays are always a busy time for us, and this half term has been no exception.

Just like for any child, the school holidays are the only time some of the children we care for get to spend time enjoying themselves and taking part in activities that they don’t get a chance to do during term time. The difference is that they need support in doing this, and that is where our community team can help.

Several children have taken the opportunity to spend the day at Chestnut Tree House, taking advantage of all the facilities on offer and taking part in planned activities such as pottery making. Others have had visits to local attractions or have been cared for at home so that siblings and parents can enjoy time doing things that just aren’t possible with a child who has complex needs.

As well as individual visits we held a Saplings event for the under 5s that we care for, and we took a group of siblings to Raystede for the day. As a hospice we provide care for the whole family, and siblings events are an important part of this; providing a safe space for the siblings of children with life-shortening conditions to have fun with others in a similar position and with support from our team.

Of course, our day to day work doesn’t stop because it’s half term and during the last week we have been caring for some really poorly children whose families just need support from us. We have also been meeting with families who are new to us, assessing their needs, completing care plans and organising their first visits, both for us to visit them at home and for them to visit the house.

So I hope everyone has had a good half term, we certainly have. For many this week it will be back to school and work. Our community team will continue visiting children at home, for regular scheduled visits or for emergency or end-of-life care, and will be busy preparing for the next school holidays.

You can find out more about what we do at www.chestnut-tree-house.org.uk